SEE THE APOLOGY.......FG apologizes and deletes tweets about bank account owners undergoing compulsory registration after Nigerians expressed outrage

The Federal Government of Nigeria has apologized to Nigerians on Twitter after people expressed outrage following an announcement made via the platform.


The FG had announced that all account holders in financial Institutions are to undergo another compulsory registration exercise different from BVN, baring which there will be consequences

The tweets asked Nigerians to pick up self-certification forms from their financial institutions, complete them, and return. The aim, the FG said, is to help "financial institutions to carry out due diligence procedures in line with the Income Tax Regulations 2019."

Nigerians reacted, asking why everyone has to go to their banks again to undergo the rigorous exercise of registering again. People also asked what then is the usefulness of BVN and National Identity Numbers if we still have to go through this process.

The FG has now deleted the thread where the announcement was made. An apology was also published after the "misleading tweets" were deleted.

In the apology, it was explained that this registration does not apply to "everybody".

The apology reads: "We apologize for the misleading tweets (now deleted) that went up yesterday, regarding the completion of self-certification forms by Reportable Persons. The message contained in the @firsNigeria  Notice does not apply to everybody. FIRS will issue appropriate clarification shortly."

see the information

The Federal Government of Nigeria took to Twitter to inform citizens that all account holders in financial Institutions are to undergo another compulsory registration exercise different from BVN.

The Nigerian Government said each individual must carry out this registration in all the various financial institutions where they have accounts.

The announcement reads: "All account holders in Financial Institutions (Banks, Insurance Companies, etc) are required to obtain, complete and submit Self - Certification Forms to their respective Financial Institutions.

"Persons holding accounts in different financial institutions is required to complete & submit the form to each one of the institutions. The forms are required by the relevant financial institutions to carry out due diligence procedures in line with the Income Tax Regulations 2019."
The FG added that "failure to comply with the requirement to administer or execute this form attracts sanctions which may include monetary penalty or inability to operate the account."

This announcement angered Nigerians and they responded, expressing their outrage.

Chinedu Ekeke wrote: "You guys are mad! I repeat: you guys are mad!!!"

@ThuggaGram_ wrote: "Notifying the general public on Twitter? Can't the president come out and have a Q&A session with the press live on the usefulness of this? Majority of Nigerians aren't on Twitter."

@rmzyville wrote: "What is the essence of BVN?"

Below are more reactions to this announcement.